Neufchâteau   ▪

History and architecture
The course of the river
Grandvoir, the castle and ironworks
Hamipré, the church and the convent
The village of Lahérie
Longlier
The village of Massul
The Nolinfaing wash house
Le Sart
Engraved and scuplted shale: funerary monuments
Warmifontaine and the slate quarry

History and architecture

From Neufchâteau, the well-informed visitor will no doubt be able to spot the town hall, courthouse, decanal church and perhaps the Griffon tower with its octagonal roof, shale walls and its oubliette, the only remaining sign of the mediaeval castle which gave its name to the city. Visitors can also enjoy strolling down the narrow, sloping and often picturesque streets which run down to the Neufchâteau stream, as well as the areas of Faubourg and Terme which developed outside of the castle grounds, around the rocky headland which the castle dominates.

Amateur architecture enthusiasts will find many buildings full of character here which do not always get the appreciation they deserve. Take a stroll through Neufchâteau, departing from the 'Place du Château'. Start by looking up at the young sandstone pediment of the Saint-Michel church (1844) and note its similarity to that of the town hall (1858 – architect Bouverie) and the courthouse (1866 – architect Vandewyngaert). Just like many of the large bourgeois houses of Neufchâteau, the Neo-classic style (end of the 18th-beginning of the 19th century) dominates the architecture of the county town in the district. The 'Athénée royal' secondary school (1858) at the centre of the old prison (1872 – architect Englebert), the pediment of which has now disappeared, also demonstrate this style of architecture which draws upon styles from classic Antiquity and the palaces of the 17th century, with the aim of magnifying power, whether political, judicial or financial.

In Neufchâteau, with Belgium having secured its independence and the intensification of administrative activities which followed, the architecture began to strongly emphasise the bourgeois character of the city, which it still retains today. The eclectic, almost Renaissance style of the courthouse marks the highpoint of this period with its tall ground floor with high limestone arcade and imposing entrance colonnade with an overhanging pediment bearing the initials of Léopold II.

Among the bourgeois homes associated with this style of architecture or architectural influence is the 'Potinière' hotel-restaurant with its façade painted in the style of Louis XVI, and a short distance away the building at no. 13 'Chaussée de France', both of which date from the second half of the 19th century.

The presbytery opposite the church has also been modified to incorporate a Neo-classical style although the building, an old provostship home of the counts of Rochefort, actually dates from 1714.

Neufchâteau also contains a number of characterful 'patrician' houses, some of which have been turned into commercial or administrative buildings. This includes the imposing commercial and youth court buildings, the 'Place de la Foire', nos 13 and 31 on the 'rue F. Roosevelt' dating from the end of the 18th century and no.12 'rue L. Burnotte' (a pharmacy) dating from the beginning of the 19th century.

One building which cannot be missed is the impressive 'Maison Bourgeois' house, a communal property located opposite the town hall. The sobriety of its architecture and elegance it radiates make this one of the most striking buildings. Its steep-sloping roof is reminiscent of the beginning of the 18th century but its window frames place its construction date a century later than this. However, the café close by may well date from the 18th century of even the end of the 17th century.

Tourists attracted to the site by the lake and its multifunctional sports complex cannot fail to miss the old Klepper mill in the district of Terme. Over time, this has been a bark mill, flour mill, oil and tobacco mill and sawmill, then an electricity station and textile mill. Today, following an extensive refurbishment, it is a culture centre and will soon also be a nature centre for issues relating to the river.
The building was rebuilt following a fire in 1858 at the edge of the old Bergh lake and comprises two buildings made of shale rubble stones coated in French stone, surrounding a water chute. At the bottom is an attractive basket-handle footbridge, built at the same time as the mill, which has unfortunately lost some of its elegance and attractiveness as a result of the renovations.